"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;" Philippians 4:6
My dear Reform Movement family,
May this message find each one of you under the care of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Every year, I am in awe of God’s tender care for His people, and this year has been no different.
Boa Vista, Brazil—For years, the situation in Venezuela has become increasingly difficult. Approximately 25% of the Venezuelan population has fled the country, in numbers that surpass refugee numbers from Syria and Ukraine.
Between June and August of this year, 30,000 crossed the border and arrived in Brazil alone. The state of Roraima receives approximately 300-500 people per day.
The Brazilian Military has set up shelters, but triaging and organizing the influx takes time.
Almirante Tamandaré, Brazil—During the weekend of November 25-27, 2022, two classes graduated from the Ebenezer Theological Seminary in the Curitiba region. At the beginning of every new term, a name is given to the class. This year, the Jerusalem and the Hope classes graduated.
Tokyo, Japan—At the end of October, Brother Benjamin Thiel (Pacific Region Regional Secretary) visited our brethren in Japan for a series of meetings that were held near Tokyo and on the island of Okinawa.
The theme was based around Revelation 14:12, "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” The subjects presented brought attention to the need of God’s overcoming power in our lives to stand in the time of the end, which the prophecies clearly show we are in today!
Malacota, Mexico—From September 23-25, the brethren in Mexico gathered in Malacota for a spiritual conference under the theme "De la ciudad al campo" (From the City to the Countryside).
Brother Mario Linares, General Conference Missionary Department Director, was present as the guest speaker. The conference was held in the South Central Mexican Field, and brethren from across the field were in attendance.